Robidas likely to start year on injured reserve

Stephane Robidas is suffering from a knee injury, and it prevented him from practising with his Maple Leafs teammates Monday.

“His knee has been sore all camp,” Leafs coach Mike Babcock said about Robidas, who underwent two surgeries on his legs two years ago.

“It’s affecting his groin now, so he’ll get together with our training staff and figure it out.”

There is no timeline for Robidas’ return.

Speculation surfaced Monday morning that Robidas had been cut from the team and placed on waivers. It is expected now that he will be placed on injured reserve. That would be the last move the Leafs would need to make to finalize their 23-man roster for the season-opening game Wednesday against Montreal.

Robidas’ injury means 22-year-old rookie Scott Harrington, acquired in the Phil Kessel trade, will make the club and be one of seven Leafs defencemen going into the season. Mark Zwolinski